Lamp socket mounting



March a, 1960 H. A. HENNESSY ET AL 2,928,065

LAMP SOCKET MOUNTING Y Filed Dec. 11, 1957 I. J. r 2

I H 1!!! J ll HOWARD HEHNESSY BY NORMHN VBSHER ATTORNEY United States Patentfi f'ice LAMP SOCKET MOUNTING Howard A. Hennessy, Ambler, and Norman Dasher,

Huntingdon Valley, Pa., assignors to Progress Manufacturing Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 11, 1957, Serial No. 701,999

10 Claims. (Cl. 339-128) This invention relates generally to lampsocket units and more particularly to av lamp socket construction that facilitates operatively mounting the lamp socket unit in place. 7

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lamp socket unit with a latch member that is snapped onto the main body member of the lamp socket unit, and which in turn is snapped onto the mounting bracket for the lamp socket unit, being thereby operatively secured in position with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide such a lamp socket unit that is exceedingly simple in design, comparatively easy and economical to manufacture and rugged and dependable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent more fully hereinafter, it being understood, of course, that the invention consists in the general combination, construction, location and relative a1"- rangement of parts, all as described in detail in the following specification, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a vertical section through a typical lighting fixture, showing a lamp socket unit constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, as indicated by line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the fixture of Figure 1, showing it mounted in a wall, as indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged horizontal sections on lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line '5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view of the apertured area of the bracket for mounting the lamp socket unit, as viewed in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the main body member of insulating material and the spring metal latch member.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the main body member, as indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the main body member, .as indicated by line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the latch member.

Referring to the drawing, the lamp socket unit constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles :of the present invention is mounted in any suitable conventional housing generally designated A. The main body of the exemplary housing A comprises a rear wall 10 and opposite side walls 11-11, top wall 12 and bottom wall 13. The housing is set in a wall B, and the front of the housing is covered with a frame 14 that is fitted with a plate glass panel 15. The housing is internally fitted with a suitable reflector plate 16. In addition the housing is internally fitted with a bracket C for mounting the lamp socket unit, generally designated D.

2,928,065 Patented Mai. 8, 1960 This mounting bracket C is anelongated sheet metal diametrically enlarged vupper end or head portion 22.. The hollow main body portion 21 is of an internal diameter that is uniform and of an external diameter that gradually decreases from the underside of the head portion 22 downwardly. The hollow main body portion 21 is projected freely downwardly'through an aperture 23 that is formed in the arm connecting portion 18 of the bracket C, and the cross axially enlarged main body portion 22 is thereby seated upon the bracket C. Upon diametrically opposite sides of the head portion 22 are formed a pair of key elements 24-24 that depend from the underside of the head portion 22 and suitably engage with complementary key receiving recesses or elements 25-25 which are formed in the arm connecting portion 18 of the bracket C. These key elements cooperate to secure the main body member 20 against turning in the aperture 23. V

The lamp socket unit D also comprises a latch member generally designated 26, which member is a strip of spring metal thatis formed to inverted generally U-shape and thereby provided with a pair of arms 27-27 and an arm connecting portion 28. The latter closely overlies and extends across the top of the head portion 22 of the main body member 20, while the arms 27-27 extend axially downwardly therefrom, close to the sides of the head portion 22 and through the aperture 23 that is formed in the arm connecting portion 18 of the bracket C.

Extending axially along diametrically opposed sides of the main body member 20 are a pair of open recesses 29-29 that are circumferentially spaced equally between the key elements 24-24 which depend from the head portion 22 of the main body member 20. Each of these recesses has a base wall 30 and a pair of parallel opposite side walls 31-31, and projecting from each base wall 30 is a protuberance 32 that affords a downwardly facing shoulder 33 proximate the top of the main body member 20. Over the protuberances 32-32, the top of the main body member 20 is beveled, as at 34.

A portion of each latch arm 27 intermediate the ends thereof is struck out to provide an upwardly and inwardly inclined snap latch element 35 that engages under the associated shoulder 33. The lower end portion of each latch arm 27 is formed to provide an outwardly facing snap latch element having a downwardly and outwardly extending inclined shoulder 36 that engages the underside of the arm connecting portion 18 of the bracket C, and a downwardly and inwardly extending inclined arm camming portion 37 that terminates in a comparatively short downwardly and outwardly extending inclined portion 38.

The latch arms 27-27 are disposed respectively in the recesses 29-29 and are inherently biased outwardly in opposite directions so that the inclined shoulders 36-36 firmly engage the edge of the aperture 23, on the underside of the bracket C, as best shown in Figure 5, in consequence of which the latch member 26 serves to secure the main body member 20 against displacement from the bracket C and recesses 29-29 aforesaid serve to secure the latch member 26 and the main body member 20 against turning relative to one. another about the principal axis of the unit.

42-42 are suitably connected to the latter and threaded thropgh a conduit 43. Current is supplied through the wires 42-42 and contacts ,39 and 40 to a lamp .44 that is threaded into the lamp socket D.

i To assemble the main body member and the latch member 26, the latter is positioned over he former with the latch arms 27-27 in registry respectively with the open recesses 29-29 and then pressed downwardly to project the latch arms 27-27 into the recesses 29-29 and seat the latch arm connecting portion 28 upon the top of the head portion 22 .of the main body member 20. As pressure is applied, the latch arms 27-27 are carnmed. outwardly in oppositev directions, first by the leading portions 38-38 thereof, then, by theshoulder portions 36-36 and lastly by the snap latch. elements:

35-35, as each of these is forced downwardly su'cces: sively over the protuberances 32-32, As the latch meme ber 26 approachesits final position, the elements 35-35 snap by the protuberances 32-32 and firmly engage thereunder, i.,e., with the underlying shoulders 33-33, to secure the latch member 26 against detachment from the main body member 20.

To assemble the lamp socket unit D and the bracket C, the unit is positioned over the bracket with the main body; member 20 thereof in registry with the aperture 23 that is formed in the bracket portion 18, and with the key elements 24-24 in registry with the key receiving elements 25-25. Then the unit D is pressed downwardly to project the hollow cylindrical portion 21 of the main body member '20 through the aperture 23 and the key elements 24-24 into the key receiving elements 25-25, and to seat the head portion 22 of the main body member 20 upon the upper surface of the apertured bracket area. As pressure is applied, the latch arms 27-27 are cammed inwardly by the latch arm portions 37-37 as the latter are forced downwardly through the aperture 23. 'Upon each side of the unit D, as the unit approaches its final position, the snap latch element comprising the arm camming portion 37 and theshoulder portion 36 snaps by the edge of the aperture 23 and projects outwardly under the opposed area of the bracket, with the shoulder portion 36 disposed in abutting relation to the edge of the aperture 23, upon the underside of the bracket. Being biased outwardly in opposite directions, the shoulder portions 36-36 not only secure the unit against displacement from the bracket C, but also sent the same firmly upon the apertured bracketarea by cumming the unit downwardly.

" formed in the exterior of said lamp holderand extending longitudinally through said collar and therebeyond along the body of said lamp holder from said collared end toward the uncollared end, each of said channels including therewithin atthe collared end an outwardly projecting shoulder, said latching member including first means engageable with said shoulders for interlocking said latching member with said lamp holder and second means engageable with the rim of the aperture in said support means operative to bias the underside of said lamp holder coilar into firm seating engagement against the aperture rim in said support means,

2. The lamp socket assembly according to wherein said latching member isa generally U-shaped strip of spring-metal disposed with the'base of the U extending diametrically across the collaredend of said. lamp holder with each arm of the U extending along the body of the lamp holder and being disposed within said longitudinally extending channels, said arms being spring biased inwardly towardw eachother. and, against the body of said lamp holder- '3. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 2 wherein said latching member first means comprises a tab struck out of each arm of said U-shaped strip and bent inwardly toward the body of said lamp holder, the free end of each tab underlying an adjacently located one of said shoulders disposed within said lamp holder chan- V nels at the collared end.

To demount the unit D from the bracket C, the unit is, pressed upwardly to thereby force a shoulder portion 36.01? the, latch member 26 back through the aperture 23, and to separate the latch and main body members, the latch arms 27-27 are spread apart against the inherent bias of the latch member until a snap latch element 35 disengages from the overlying protuberance 32.

It willbe understood that the lamp socket unit of the present invention is susceptible of various: changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention, and it isv accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a lamp socket assembly, a lamp holder, a singleapertured support means for said lampholder, and a one-piece latching member securing said lampholder to said support means, saidlamp holder being formed with aradially enlarged collar at one end, the underside of which collar is adapted to seat against the rim of the aperture in said support means with the uncollared end projected through the aperture, a plurality of c :l 1 annels 4. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 3 wherein said latching'member second means comprise a snap latch formed in each. arm of said Urshaped strip, said snap latches being formed by turning each arm laterally outwardly to form a shoulder .disposed in close underlying relationship to the'rim of the aperture in said support means and then turning each arm laterally downwardly and inwardly below said formed shoulder to bring said arms adjacent their ends into.v bearing engagement with the lamp holder body.

5. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 2 wherein said latching member second means comprise a snap latch formed in each arm of. said u-shaped strip, said snap latches being formed by turning each arm laterally outwardlyto form a shoulder disposed in closeunderlying relationship to the rim of the aperture in said support means and then turningeach arm laterally downwardly and inwardly below said. formed shoulder to bring said arms adjacent their .ends intozbearing engage ment with the lamp holder body.

6. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 1 wherein said collar includes at least one. key portion.

extending from its underside toward the uncollared .end, and said support means aperture rim isnotched to provide a keyway for receiving'said key, whereby said, lamp holder is prevented from turning in said. support means when said key is disposed within said keyway.

7. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 6 wherein said latching member is a generally U.-shaped strip of spring-metal disposed with the base of the U extending diametrically across thecollared end ofsaid lamp holder with each arm of the U extending along the body of the lamp holder and being disposed within said longitudinally extending channels, said arms being spring biased inwardly toward each other and against the body of said lamp holder.

8. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 7 wherein said latching member first means comprises a tab struck out of each. arm of said, U-shaped strip and bent inwardly toward the body of said lamp holder, the free end of each tab underlying an adjacently located on o e shoul er dimmed w thin a am de channels at the collared end.

9. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said latching member second means comprise a snap latch formed in each arm of said U-shaped strip, said snap latches being formed by turning each arm laterclaim 1 a ally outwardly to form a shoulder disposed in close underlying relationship to the rim of the aperture in said support means and then turning each arm laterally downwardly and inwardly below said formed shoulder to bring said arms adjacent their ends into bearing engagement with the lamp holder body.

10. The lamp socket assembly according to claim 7 wherein said latching member second means comprise a snap latch formed in each arm of said U-shaped strip, said snap latches being formed by turning each arm laterally outwardly to form a shoulder disposed in close underlying relationship to the rim of the aperture in said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,971 McDonald May 23, 1911 1,110,163 Thomas Sept. 8, 1914 2,639,311 Cook May 19, 1953 2,757,353 Opalenik et al July 31, 1956 

